Matthew 24 9

Matthew 24:9 kjv

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Matthew 24:9 nkjv

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

Matthew 24:9 niv

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Matthew 24:9 esv

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

Matthew 24:9 nlt

"Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 9 Meaning

Matthew 24:9 predicts that followers of Jesus will endure intense persecution before His return. This suffering includes being delivered up to affliction, facing death, and experiencing global hatred. The core reason for this opposition is their allegiance to and identification with the name of Jesus Christ, marking suffering as an intrinsic part of faithful discipleship in the end times.

Matthew 24 9 Context

Matthew 24:9 is part of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), delivered by Jesus to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The disciples had asked two primary questions: "When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Mt 24:3). Jesus' response provides a complex prophecy concerning both the imminent destruction of the Jerusalem temple (fulfilled in AD 70) and signs leading up to His glorious Second Coming. Verse 9 specifically falls within Jesus' description of the beginning of "birth pains" or signs of the end, which are global and intense. It directly follows prophecies about deception, wars, famines, and earthquakes (Mt 24:4-8). Historically, early Christians faced severe persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities. The warning of global hatred and death in Matthew 24:9 would have resonated deeply with their contemporary experience and prepared them for future widespread antagonism from a world hostile to the Gospel and its transforming power. This specific prediction establishes suffering as a norm rather than an exception for Christ's followers throughout the "last days" leading to His return, affecting believers worldwide.

Matthew 24 9 Word analysis

• Then (τότε, tote): Signifies a sequence in time. It indicates that the events of persecution will follow the "birth pains" mentioned previously (wars, famines, earthquakes). It points to a definitive phase.
• they will deliver you up (παραδώσουσιν ὑμᾶς, paradōsousin hymas):
  • paradōsousin: From paradidōmi, meaning to hand over, betray, deliver up. This word is frequently used to describe the handing over of Jesus Himself to the authorities (e.g., Mt 26:2). Here, it denotes believers being handed over to those who will inflict suffering, often governmental or religious powers. It implies an act of betrayal or surrender to hostile forces.
  • hymas: "you" (plural). Refers to the disciples present and by extension, all Christ's followers.
• to tribulation (εἰς θλῖψιν, eis thlipsin):
  • thlīpsin: From thlipsis, meaning pressure, compression, distress, affliction, oppression, anguish. It describes intense suffering, hardship, and severe difficulty, often implying external pressure. In biblical eschatology, "the tribulation" can refer to a specific period of intense suffering (cf. Mt 24:21). Here, it refers to suffering that comes from external pressures.
• and kill you (καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν ὑμᾶς, kai apoktenousin hymas):
  • apoktenousin: From apokteinō, meaning to kill, slay, put to death. This is a direct, explicit prediction of martyrdom. It leaves no ambiguity regarding the ultimate consequence of this persecution for some.
• and you will be hated (καὶ ἔσεσθε μισούμενοι, kai esesthe misoumenoi):
  • esesthe: "you will be" (future indicative of eimi, to be).
  • misoumenoi: Present passive participle of miseō, meaning to hate, detest, abhor. The present participle indicates an ongoing state of being hated. It is not a temporary or sporadic animosity but a deep-seated, persistent antagonism.
• by all nations (ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, hypo pantōn tōn ethnōn):
  • pantōn: "all," universal in scope.
  • ethnōn: From ethnos, meaning people group, nation, gentile. This signifies that the hatred against Christ's followers will not be limited to one particular region or people but will be global in its reach, encompassing diverse peoples and cultures worldwide. This reflects the global mission of the church preceding the end.
• for my name’s sake (διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου, dia to onoma mou):
  • dia: "on account of," "because of," "for the sake of." Indicates the specific cause or reason.
  • onoma: "name." In the Bible, a person's "name" often represents their entire being, character, authority, identity, and teaching. Thus, believers will be hated not for political or personal reasons, but solely because they are identified with, represent, and live for Jesus Christ. It implies a direct spiritual conflict between the world and Christ's divine authority.
  • mou: "my." Clearly refers to Jesus' name.

• They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you: This phrase group directly predicts legal persecution and violent martyrdom. It contrasts with passive suffering; it's an active handing over to authorities, resulting in direct harm and death. This is a severe warning that highlights the cost of discipleship.
• You will be hated by all nations: This phrase group emphasizes the universality and profound nature of the opposition. It implies that the spread of the Gospel to "all nations" will simultaneously trigger a global, pervasive hatred. It is an intentional, deeply ingrained hostility rooted in a rejection of Christ's kingdom.
• For my name's sake: This pivotal phrase provides the underlying theological reason for the persecution. It signifies that the hatred is fundamentally against Christ Himself, and believers share in His suffering simply by bearing His identity. It is a spiritual animosity, a confrontation between Christ's reign and the world's rebellion, making their suffering redemptive and part of Christ's program.

Matthew 24 9 Bonus section

The prediction in Matthew 24:9 should be viewed as an integral part of God's redemptive plan, not merely as an unfortunate consequence. The persecution and hatred of believers serve several divine purposes:

• A witness: The faithful endurance of believers under persecution acts as a powerful witness to the truth of Christ's resurrection and the steadfastness of God's power, even leading some persecutors to faith (cf. Acts 7:54-8:1; Acts 9:1-30).
• Purification of the Church: Suffering often purifies the Church, exposing nominal faith and strengthening genuine commitment (cf. 1 Pet 1:6-7). It forces believers to rely solely on God.
• Preparation for the Gospel's Spread: Persecution often disperses believers, inadvertently leading to the wider spread of the Gospel (cf. Acts 8:4).
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus foretold these things precisely so His disciples would not be shaken but recognize the divine hand in all events as they unfold (Jn 16:1, 4).
• Participation in Christ's Suffering: Through tribulation "for My name's sake," believers intimately participate in Christ's sufferings and complete "what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" for the sake of His body, the church (Col 1:24). This provides meaning and purpose to the suffering.This verse highlights the clash between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, making it clear that such conflict is inherent to the nature of spiritual warfare.

Matthew 24 9 Commentary

Matthew 24:9 serves as a sobering warning and an indispensable truth for Christ's disciples across history and into the end times. Jesus reveals that a defining characteristic of the period leading to His return will be intense persecution, culminating in the martyrdom of some believers. This is not an incidental hardship but a direct consequence of professing and embodying the name of Jesus in a world hostile to divine truth. The prophecy covers various aspects: being delivered up (betrayed or handed over to authorities), enduring intense affliction, and facing execution. The mention of "all nations" signifies that as the Gospel spreads globally, so too will the opposition against it. The root cause is allegiance to Christ; believers will be hated not for wrongdoing, but solely for their identity in Him, which challenges worldly systems and spiritual darkness. This verse dispels any notion of an easy path for faithful followers of Jesus and underscores that bearing His name often involves sharing in His suffering, fulfilling a necessary testimony before His glorious return. It calls believers to readiness, perseverance, and unwavering faithfulness amidst tribulation.

Examples for practical usage:

• The courage of early church martyrs like Stephen (Acts 7) who faced stoning.
• The perseverance of missionaries and believers in closed countries today who face imprisonment or death for sharing the Gospel.
• Believers enduring social ostracization or job loss due for upholding biblical principles in secular environments.